Seven candidates line up for state superintendent of schools post, with primary on Tuesday [View all]

After the position was held for more than a decade by Gov. Tony Evers and his appointed successor, Wisconsin voters will elect a new state superintendent of schools this spring. Carolyn Stanford Taylor, who stepped into the role when Evers became governor, is not running, leaving the field open to seven contenders in the Feb. 16 primary. The two candidates with the most votes will face off in the general election April 6.

As school districts have taken vastly different approaches to navigating the pandemic, the new superintendent could become a key figure to guide this process and address widening inequities. While the superintendent's power over local school boards is limited, Taylor was able to pressure Milwaukee Public Schools to reopen for certain students with disabilities by threatening to withhold funds for special education.

The superintendent also crafts budget proposals for state education funding every two years. Taylor submitted a two-year budget request this fall, and the next superintendent will propose a new budget in 2022. Some candidates proposed overhauling school funding, reviving efforts that have failed for years to change how the state determines aid for each district and caps school budgets. All candidates called for additional aid for special education, English language learners and mental health. Such changes would require support from lawmakers.

Description of candidates and their platforms at link: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2021/02/10/seven-candidates-primary-wisconsin-superintendent-schools/4438084001/

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